Dredging-bucket.



No. 726,640. A PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

R. W. CHRISTIAN. DREDGING BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

lnlllllln W 74 77a, 7M 7722.

Unirse STATES .PATENT Orrrcn.

ROBERT W. CHRISTIAN, OF BANNACK, MONTANA.

DREDGING-BUCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,640, dated April 28, 1903.

Application 'filed November 23, 1901. Serial No. 83.455. (No model.)

The width of the buckets of dredging-ma? chines now in general use is limited, for the reason that the pivotal connections between them are'located at thesides, andthe farther these connections are separated the weaker will be the conveyer. The connections are also subject to excessive wear, and the couplings as ordinarily constructed have to'ibe frequently repaired or renewed. This wear is occasioned by the grit which works into the joints andV grinds them out until said joints are loose, consequently throwing the buckets out of alinement.

One of the objects of the present invention is to improve the construction of the buckets, and especially vthe connections between the same, so that they are much stronger kand will permit of wider buckets being employed, at the same time making the several elements entirely interchangeable, so that any one may be readily removed and replaced.

A further and important object is to provide'a novel form'ofpivot-pin and means for lockingthe same in place, lsaid pin and locking means being so constructed that they may be reversed to present new wearing-surfaces,

thus prolonging the life and usefulness'of the pin. In connection with this a reversible bushing is also employed, which when worn may be turned to bring another surface into coacting relation with the pin.`

In the accompanyingv drawings the preferred embodiment-ofthe invention is fully illustrated, and this embodiment is also described in thel following specification.

It will of course be understood that the right is reserved to make such changes and modifications from the construction set forth as the scope of the appended claims will permit.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a conveyer constructed in accordance with the'present invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line @c of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing themeans forlocking the pivot-piu in place. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the locking-pin, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the lockingplate.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The bucket as a whole is designated by the reference-numeral 10 and comprises a rear wall 11, to which is riveted thesheet-metal hood 12, having the" usual lip'13. rlhis hood 12 and lip 13 in themselves 'form no part of the present invention and may be changed or modified as desired. The rearwall 11 is preferably a casting, the lower portion of which is provided with eyeslt, theinner ends of which are spaced apart to form a socket 15, the inner wall of said socket being inset, as shown at 16. The opposite end of lthe rear wall 11 is provided with a'pluralityof spaced veyes 17, the central one of which is located in alinement with the socket 15 at the lower end, while the spaces between-saideyes 17 form sockets l18 in alinement withthe eyes 14C of the lower end. Similarly-constructed links 10 connect the upper end of onebucket .l with the lower end of the adjacent bucket, as will be readily understood. By referring to socket 15 and the two outer eyes 17a will emv eyes, as shown in Fig. 3, and'has a cross-head 21, that projects on opposite sides ofthe shank and fits in one of the channels 19, whereby said pin is held against rotation, and said cross-head also constitutes holding means that is located in one of the channels to prevent longitudinal displacement of the pin in one direction. The end of the pin opposite the head is provided with an annular groove 22, and this end having said groove projects into the channel 19 of the other outer eye. A locking device in the form of a plate 23 is secured in this channel by means of a rivet 24 and has a bifurcated portion 25, which embraces the end of the pin and engages in the groove 22 thereof, the locking-plate thus also constituting holding means located in the other channel to secure the pin against accidental displacement. The pin 2O is therefore held against independent movement in the eyes 17 of the upper end of the bucket, while the head 21 and the plate 23, tting in the channels of the eyes 12, constitute holding means which prevent the longitudinal displacement of the piu. The lower eyes 14 have openings considerably larger than those through the upper eyes and are, furthermore, provided with longitudinally-disposed grooves 26 that extend into the walls of the eyes in a plane that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the element. Bushings in the form of sleeves 27 t in the eyes and have keys 28, that engage in the slots 26, whereby sleeves are held against rotation. The interior diameter of these sleeves is the same as the openings through the eyes 17.

In assembling the buckets the upper eyes 17 of each are placed in coacting relation With the bottom eyes 14 of the adjacent link, and a pivot-pin 20 is passed through said alined eyes and locked. The buckets and links will therefore be pivotally connected at a plurality of points, including an intermediate one, which greatly strengthens the connection and permits of the Widening of the buckets. The frictional bearing due to the swingingmovements of the buckets will be between the pivot-pin and the bushings 27; but the wear thereon will be upon one side only, as all are held against relative movement in the elements to which they are secured. When they become worn to a degree sufficient to loosen the joints and throw the buckets out of alinement, it is only necessary to unlock the pin and either turn it half-Way around or remove it entirely and insert it from the other end. In either case a new wearing-surface will be presented, while the old one will be moved to an inoperative position. In like manner the bushings may be interchanged or reversed, so that the joints will be tightened and the bearings again alined. By this construction it will therefore be seen that a greatly-improved joint is provided which is not only stronger, but is more durable and can be used for a longer time than those ordinarily constructed.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape,

proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bucket conveyer of the class described, the combination with the conveyer elements having pivotally-associated eyes, the outer face of one oi the outer eyes being provided with a depressed seat, of a pin passing through the eyes, and a locking device for the pin secured in the seat and detachably engaging the pin to hold it against longitudinal displacement.

2. In a bucket conveyer of the class described, tlie combination with the conveyer elements having pivot-ally-associated eyes, the outer face of one of the outer eyes being provided with a depressed seat, of a pin pass ing through the eyes and having a socket that is located in the seat, and a locking device 'lor the pin secured in the seat and detaehably engaging in the socket of the pin to hold said pin against longitudinal displacement.

3. In a bucket conveyer of the class described, the combination with the conveyer elements having pivotally-associated eyes, the outer face of one of the outer eyes being provided with a depressed channel that in tersects the opening through said eye, of a pin passing through the eyes and having an annular groove that is located in the channel, and a locking device secured in the channel and embracing the pin, being engaged in the groove thereof to hold said pin against longitudinal displacement.

4. In a bucket conveyer of the class described, the combination with conveyer ele'- ments having pivotally-associated eyes, the outer eyes of said elements being provided in their outer faces with depressed seats, of a pin passing through the eyes of the elements, and holding means for preventing the longitudinal displacement of the pin, said means being located in the seats of both of the outer eyes.

5. In a bucket conveyer of the class described, the combination with the Vconveyer elements having pivotally-associated eyes, the outer faces of both of the outer eyes being provided with channels, and a pivot-pin passed through the eyes and having a head that tits in the channel of one of the outer eyes, said pin being reversible so that the head can be itted into the channel of the outer eye to present a new wearing-surface to the eyes of the adjacent element.

6. In a bucket conveyer of the class described, the combination with the conveyer elements having pivotally-associated eyes provided with alined openings therethrough, the outer faces of both of the outer eyes being provided with channels that intersect said openings, and a pivot-pin passing through IOO IIO

the eyes and having a head that projects on opposite sides of the pin and fits in the channel of one of the outer eyes, said pin being reversible so that the head can be fitted into the channel of the other outer eye to present a new Wearing-surface to the eyes of the adjacent element.

'7. In a bucket conveyor of the class described, the combination with the conveyer elements having pivotally-associated eyes, the outer faces of both of the outer eyes being provided with channels, and a pivot-pin passing through the eyes and having a head that fits in the channel of one of the outer eyes, and locking means located in the chan- Y elementsrhaving pivotally-associated eyes provided with alined openings therethrough, the outer faces of both of the outer eyes being provided with similarly-shaped channels that intersect said openings, and a pivot-pin passing through the eyes and having a head that projects upon opposite sides ofthe pin and fits in the channel of one of the outer eyes, and a locking-plate secured in the other channel and engaging the end of the pin opposite the head to hold said pin in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT W. CHRISTIAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. STEGER, F. L. GRAVES. 

